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Some performances on the pitch have been sensational, carrying the Swans to second in the division after 6 games. However, whats happened on the pitch has occasionally been marred by whats happened off of it, leaving the likes of StadCo to rue a difficult August. Swans MAD looks on Swansea's first month in the return of League One football and carefully looks at those who've had good and bad months.....
ROBERTO MARTINEZ - GOOD MONTH!
Its been a fantastic August for the club captain, who has probably been Swansea most consistent performer on the pitch. After struggling with form
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Martinez has played in all of Swansea's League One fixtures so far and the club have benefited from his controlling and calming influence in the centre of the park. The Spaniard also capped off a fine month by scoring his first goal for the club in 17 months in the club's 5-2 win at Walsall. It has most definitely been a GOOD MONTH for Martinez, who has confirmed himself as one of the squad's major players once more.
STADCO - BAD MONTH
Just what is going on down at the New Stadium, eh? After the people of Swansea finally got a stadium to be proud of, the company chosen to run it do their best to screw it up for everyone involved. Just what are StadCo doing?!!!!
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After the horrendous season ticket fiasco over the summer, the ticket purchasing problems, the online machine crashes and the 45 minute wait for tickets on a Monday morning, StadCo hit the national headlines when they well and truly screwed up the arrangements for the Welsh International against Slovenia. Supporters were sent and billed for twice as many tickets as they purchased...but StadCo vowed to sort out these "teething problems".
The result? Six games into the club's stay at the White Rock and an estimated 450 people gave up standing in the ridiculous queue for tickets against Barnsley...more lost revenue. Its definitely been a BAD MONTH - StadCo...sort it out!!!
KEVIN McLEOD - GOOD MONTH!
What can you say about Kevin McLeod's August?? After a dreadful first six months to his Swansea career due to injury and loss of form, Kevin McLeod silenced his critics with a goal and a much-improved performance against Doncaster Rovers. Three more top perfomances later
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However, its not so much his performances on the pitch that have had everyone talking....more his celebrations. The now legendary "Swim Away", which is fast becoming Swansea's answer to the "Ayatollah" is now back in abundance and refers to the escape used by a bunch of Cardiff fans after finding themselves pinned back in Swansea Bay. Now a first team regular, McLeod will hopefully find some consistency to his Swansea performances.
TEAM DISCIPLINE - BAD MONTH
Suspensions have been a huge problem this month. Three red cards and a whole host of yellows have caused Kenny Jackett major grief in August and
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Bristol Rovers' Christian Edwards was a forced loan signing, after the club was left with just one fit senior centre-back for the visit of Doncaster Rovers and Kenny has vowed to end the suspension problems. Not only is it costing the club dearly in terms of players missing, but is also beginning to earn the club a poor reputation amongst opposition teams. Definitely something that needs to be worked on next month!
LEE TRUNDLE'S FUTURE - GOOD MONTH
It has certainly been an important month for Lee Trundle, in that the transfer deadline finally brought an end to months of speculation regarding his future. Just about every club in the Championship and several Premiership outfits have been sniffing around last season's top scorer for
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This can only be good news for the club, seeing as the amount of press coverage and increased revenue that he alone brings to South Wales is of huge benefit. He's also nabbed two goals in August, including that stunning free-kick that helped beat Barnsley on Bank Holiday Monday. Swansea are definitely a far bigger threat with Trundle on board...so its been a GOOD MONTH!
ANDY ROBINSON - BAD MONTH
Its been a frustrating month for the North Bank favourite, but perhaps could prove a blessing in disguise. Robinson was suspended for the first five games of the season and has only appeared as a substitute over the Bank Holiday
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Robinson missed the promotion celebrations last season after his large suspension and has also payed by missing the start of the League One campaign. Nevertheless, this could prove beneficial to the popular scouser who may finally learn to curb his temper when receiving "special" treatment from opposition defenders. Definitely a BAD MONTH for our Andy.
YOUNG PLAYERS - GOOD MONTH
August has been a good month for the squad's younger players. Shaun McDonald will be delighted after making his domestic senior debut against Reading in the League Cup, followed by his league debut at the weekend.
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However the outstanding young player of August must go to Owain Tudur-Jones. The giant midfielder has been thrown into the first team after O'Leary's suspension and has made a number of fine performances over the past few weeks. Add that to his first senior goal at Walsall last weekend and his first U-21 appearance for Wales...it really has been a GOOD MONTH for OTJ.
HUW JENKINS - BAD MONTH
Poor ol' Huw. After watching his team fight their way to second in the league by the end of August, you'd have thought that we'd have been singing his praises! However, Jenkins' incoherent ramblings to the media have been the
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August saw the "Lee Johnson Affair", where Jenkins did one thing and told the supporters that he'd done another - a move that immediately back-fired. And as for Darren Pratley?? What can we say? Please Mr Chairman, never say its a "done deal" unless it really is because otherwise you'll be left with egg on your face when you've alerted another club to his availability and they jump in and nab him!!